(For all the news from the ICIS 6th World Olefins Conference, Brussels, 2 March 2011, click on ICIS news.)

The Sofitel Le Louise was a great improvement on last year’s venue at the Brussels Hilton, but again it was packed to the gills. Every seat was taken for every paper throughout the whole day, and the Blog had the impression that people didn’t dare leave their seats for fear that they wouldn’t be able to squeeze back in.

The linen-skirted seats gave the room the feeling of a wedding marquee, and the dual giant screens either side of the podium meant that everyone had a clear view.

The conference colour this year was apple green – with the green of the sponsors Integra banner on the stage picked out in the Dynasty-style promo video and again in Gina’s jacket. At dinner, I was given an “I’m Green” enamel lapel pin by our speaker from Braskem bio-polymers.